Dear Editor,
The government has downplayed the implications of the deal with the Chinese, regarding Goat Islands. I state, Chinese, because, in my view, this is not just a deal with a private company. It is indirectly, a deal with the Chinese Government. It is one thing to engage China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) in the construction of roads and bridges. It is an entirely different thing to lease, such a strategic islet, as Goat Island is, to CHEC, without great transparency to the Jamaican people, as to the conditions of the deal.
This introduces a whole different scenario than a deal with a private company. Because, it is a known fact that the Chinese Government has control over businesses in that country. Gordon Shirley et al must ask themselves, some questions: If Jamaica was not at the mercy of countries such as China, would we be even considering this deal? Or, let me phrase it differently. Are the Chinese simply seeking to exploit the economic conditions Jamaica finds itself in now? How do we limit the objectives of the Chinese Government in this arrangement? What will be the outcome? If all that mattered was that thousands of jobs will be created, should we reconsider this deal?
We have no details on how the sovereignty of Jamaica, at large, will be protected from the Chinese Government. Keep in mind that this Jamaica Government promised, more than any in the past, that transparency would be their hallmark, their watchword. What I find blindingly amazing is that just about every article and conversation about Goat Islands is anchored on the impact the developments there will have on flora and fauna.
Nothing that I have seen or heard, thus far, addresses the impact on the Jamaican society. How will we control the actions of the Chinese? What will be their status? How many Chinese will be allowed to enter the country? How will they enter and leave the country? How long will the deal last? How much will it cost the country? How much will the country benefit? Yes, 10,000 jobs sounds good at a time like this. But, how will it sound, when Jamaica is back on its feet, and we are entangled with the Chinese, over this and that? How will Jamaica disentangle, years from now?
Mr Shirley et al, in all their brilliance and experiences, cannot afford to ignore or downplay the outcomes. Especially when those outcomes are so hard to predict in a business contract decision, as all encompassing, as this one certainly is.
Kenneth Reeves
Stockbridge, Georgia, USA
kennethreeves58@gmail.com
Goat Islands -- Solid business decision or roll of the dice
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The government has downplayed the implications of the deal with the Chinese, regarding Goat Islands. I state, Chinese, because, in my view, this is not just a deal with a private company. It is indirectly, a deal with the Chinese Government. It is one thing to engage China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) in the construction of roads and bridges. It is an entirely different thing to lease, such a strategic islet, as Goat Island is, to CHEC, without great transparency to the Jamaican people, as to the conditions of the deal.
This introduces a whole different scenario than a deal with a private company. Because, it is a known fact that the Chinese Government has control over businesses in that country. Gordon Shirley et al must ask themselves, some questions: If Jamaica was not at the mercy of countries such as China, would we be even considering this deal? Or, let me phrase it differently. Are the Chinese simply seeking to exploit the economic conditions Jamaica finds itself in now? How do we limit the objectives of the Chinese Government in this arrangement? What will be the outcome? If all that mattered was that thousands of jobs will be created, should we reconsider this deal?
We have no details on how the sovereignty of Jamaica, at large, will be protected from the Chinese Government. Keep in mind that this Jamaica Government promised, more than any in the past, that transparency would be their hallmark, their watchword. What I find blindingly amazing is that just about every article and conversation about Goat Islands is anchored on the impact the developments there will have on flora and fauna.
Nothing that I have seen or heard, thus far, addresses the impact on the Jamaican society. How will we control the actions of the Chinese? What will be their status? How many Chinese will be allowed to enter the country? How will they enter and leave the country? How long will the deal last? How much will it cost the country? How much will the country benefit? Yes, 10,000 jobs sounds good at a time like this. But, how will it sound, when Jamaica is back on its feet, and we are entangled with the Chinese, over this and that? How will Jamaica disentangle, years from now?
Mr Shirley et al, in all their brilliance and experiences, cannot afford to ignore or downplay the outcomes. Especially when those outcomes are so hard to predict in a business contract decision, as all encompassing, as this one certainly is.
Kenneth Reeves
Stockbridge, Georgia, USA
kennethreeves58@gmail.com
Goat Islands -- Solid business decision or roll of the dice
-->